Born at Caledonia, Ontario on 11 February 1878, son of John and Mary Abbey. He came to Manitoba and farmed until 1901 when he took employment at the Brandon Flour Mills in Brandon. He took evening classes at a business college then, as of 1907, had the Brandon agency for the Manitoba Free Press.

On 13 November 1901, he married Julia Ann Baker at Brandon. They had two sons: Clifford Leigh Abbey (b 1902) and Nelson Gerry Abbey (b 1905). He was a member of the IOOF, the Knights of Maccabees, and the COF.